Button Bay State Park

Quick Facts

Things To Do

Overview

253-acre Button Bay State Park is located on a bluff in Ferrisburgh along the 130-mile long Lake Champlain. After being operated as a farm for quite some time, Button Bay opened as a state park in 1964. The park is so named for the button-like concretions formed by clay deposits found along the shoreline.

Activities

Boating

Canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals are available at park. Motor boating, sailing, and personal watercraft are also popular on Lake Champlain.

Bird Watching

Button Bay is a popular birding location where, in season, you can view a mix of lakeside and woodland birds including ring-necked duck, great blue heron, lesser yellowlegs, bufflehead, common goldeneye, and scaup.

Bicycling

Button Bay is part of the Lake Champlain bikeway, a 363-mile bike route around Lake Champlain and Richelieu River in Quebec. The section around Button Bay park is relatively flat and particularly suited to family riding.

Auto/Motorcycle

Button Bay State Park is located along the Lake Champlain Byway, where you can visit lakeside communities and villages, farms, restaurants, covered bridges and national forests.

Camping

The camping area is generally an open, grassy area overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. There are 73 RV/tent sites (no hookups), including 13 lean-tos and 2 cabins. Flush toilets, hot showers ($), and a dump station are provided. Some limited generator use is permitted. The park has a play area and a swimming pool with lifeguards. Firewood and ice are available for purchase.

Hiking

Button Bay's Nature Trails are open year-round. During the winter months, cross-country skiers are allowed on the trails.

For detailed trail info and maps, click on the link below to visit the park web page.

Historic Sites

If you would like to get a close look at some interesting button bay buttons, or you want to learn more about the geology or flora and fauna of the area, visit the nature center at Button Bay State Park. Peruse the displays and explore the mysteries of the geologic features of this unique place.

Picnicking

Button Bay has an open shelter (seating up to 300 people) with electricity, 2 group grills, 32 picnic tables, and access to swimming, basketball, volleyball, a playground, and fishing and paddling in Lake Champlain. There are individual picnic spots with picnic tables and grills throughout the park.

RVing

73 RV/tent sites are available (no hookups). A dump station is located in the second loop of campsites and some limited generator use is permitted. Ice and firewood are available for purchase. Pets are permitted at campsites, but not in day use areas.

Water Sports

Button Bay has a fun swimming pool with a huge green slide for all ages to enjoy. A lifeguard is on duty during pool hours.

Winter Sports

Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are some of the fun winter activities many visitors do during the off season. Lake Champlain also provides frozen space for dog sledding, kite-skiing, and ice skating.

Seasonality/Weather

Open Memorial Day weekend - Columbus Day weekend. Open for day use: 10:00 am - sunset.

Directions

Driving

From Vergennes: Go 1/2 mi S on Hwy 22A, then 6-1/2 mi NW on local roads.